Home final deal could be just the ticket

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An end to the embarrassing MCG preliminary final impasse is
closer after talks threatened to break down irrevocably last week
when the AFL attempted to introduce a range of ambit claims to
negotiations.

The AFL is desperately trying to renegotiate the contract, which
guarantees at least one of the two preliminary finals is at the MCG
- regardless of whether a non-Victorian team would normally have a
right to play that game at home.

As was the case last year when the Brisbane Lions were forced to
play a notional home preliminary final in Melbourne, the deal could
have major consequences for this season's finals.

With West Coast seemingly guaranteed top spot, second-placed
Adelaide or third-placed Sydney could miss out on a home
preliminary if, as seems likely, either team finished second and
then won its first final. The Swans and Crows meet at AAMI Stadium
on Saturday night with second place a major incentive.

MCG officials were angry at the AFL's bold attempt to
incorporate commercial matters unrelated to football or the
preliminary finals to contract negotiations at the 11th hour.

The talks derailed until AFL Commission chairman Ron Evans and
MCG Trust chairman John Wylie spoke on Friday and agreed to attempt
to salvage the deal. It is understood the AFL wanted right of veto
over ground signage and the MCG's ticketing contract introduced to
the negotiations.

In exchange for varying the contract, the MCG has sought a
minimum of 45 games a year, including 10 of the best-drawing 12
home-and-away matches. They have also requested more flexibility in
AFL fixturing to allow them to host blockbusters of other codes -
such as the Bledisloe Cup - and more Friday night fixtures in the
warmer months.

The AFL wants the banking of finals in the first two weeks of
September to be extended from a rolling six games over three years
to 10 games over five years.

An MCG source described the AFL's dealings as "unbelievable" but
said: "I think if the AFL wants to get it resolved they will be
able to get it resolved."

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou denied the AFL tried to
introduce signage or ticketing to negotiations but said he was
aware of the discussions last week between Evans and Wylie.

"I am still confident that both we and the MCG have got a
genuine willingness to resolve this issue and our discussions over
many months have been very constructive and we are genuinely trying
to do the best thing for football," he said.

Swans defender Leo Barry is likely to be available for Saturday
night's match despite being forced off with a leg injury in
Sunday's win over West Coast. It is believed he suffered only
bruising.

Swans coach Paul Roos said of Barry: "He's one of our most
important players - he's probably played even better this year than
last year."

Young midfielder Nick Malceski should be fit despite a bruised
calf, leaving the Swans with a strong squad as they enter the most
vital stretch of the season. Of regular senior players only Stuart
Maxfield (knee) is sidelined while Ben Fixter, Jason Saddington,
Andrew Schauble and Paul Bevan are performing in reserves.

"Our depth is probably as good as it has been in recent times,"
Roos said. "We've gone with some kids like [Luke] Ablett, [Lewis]
Roberts-Thomson, [Sean Dempster], Bevan, [Adam Schneider] and
[Jarrad] McVeigh and now we've got a good pool of players with AFL
experience."